Presence by Patrick van der Werf

Presence by Patrick van der werf Fly By Night, Fremantle Sep 17- 19 Subiaco Arts Centre Sep 20 & 21 Award-winning play gets music treatment Award winning Australian play, Presence by Patrick van der Werf will receive its Western Australian premiere in a unique production concept for three nights only at the Fly By Night on September 17 - 19, followed by a presentation at the Studio at Subiaco Arts Centre on Saturday and Sunday, September 20 and 21. Winner of the 2002 Griffin Award for new playwriting and the Taffy Davis Memorial Award for Best New Play, Presence explores social isolation and human frailties with warmth, humour and a touch of Beckett. It has received great acclaim over east with influential critic Bryce Hallet observing that “the play’s rambunctious tone and brittle wit makes its glimpses of tender, wry affection all the more poignant.” Presence is produced by ‘young turk’ outfit, So Frenchy Productions formed in 2007 with the objective to provide edgy, contemporary Australian theatre to wider audiences by flinging theatre out in to the social and music corners of Perth. The company had a great success with recent show, art.tension seekers with music from hot local band Schvendes. Presence blends together a superb talented young cast, Kingsley Judd, Katya Shevtsov, Sebastiano Gavasso, Bronwyn Pearson, Ben Brown with musicians, Dan Russell (violin) and Brett Murray (keys/ electronics) led by Music Director and composer Tristen Parr (cello). Director Bruce Denny said that Presence was an intricate and poignant play that merged humour and compassion in an entertaining manner. “This is not a play where you are expected to take home a message, just maybe a wider understanding of the frailty of people beneath their public exterior” he said. “Its dark rooted drama is complemented by a sophisticated merge of art-rock aesthetics, classical strings and electronic soundscapes. Presence is entertainment which you won’t feel guilty about.” Presence has been produced in support by Principle Partner Erceg Management, and funding partners Department of Culture and the Arts, Mirvac and the Australian Business Arts Foundation through the WA Premier’s Arts Partnership Fund. Valued Partners include the Fly By Night Musicians Club, Edith Cowan University, Robert Duval Foods and Feral Brewery. Tickets are $22 (Concession) $26 (Standard) and are available from Planet (Mt Lawley), Mills Records (Fremantle) or through BOCS (08) 9484 1133 Media contacts: John Michael Swinbank 0414 743 418 & David Hall 0423 083 004